Effect of Low Cost Fertigation on Flower Yield of Marigold and Tuberose Grown on the Bunds in the Rice based Cropping System

Abstract

Large area of field bunds remains unused in the areas dominated with rice cultivation. These available spaces in the form of bund can be utilized for additional income besides the main crop by planting flower crops. An investigation was carried out to develop an economically suitable model for utilization of field bunds through flower cultivation. The growth, flowering parameters and yield of African marigold and tuberose cultivated on bunds under low cost drip system were assessed for profitability. A modified low cost drip irrigation system recommended by Precision Farming Development Centre, Raipur was used for drip irrigation and fertigation. The flower crops, African marigold and Tuberose were tested at two different plant spacing (30 × 30cm and 40 × 30cm) on one metre wide bund with different methods of irrigation and fertilizer application in factorial RBD design with three replications. Maximum duration of flowering, flower diameter, number of flowers and flower yield per plant in African marigold was recorded under drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF application at plant spacing of 40 × 30cm. In tuberose, spike length, number of florets per spike and number of spikes per plant was observed with drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF application at plant spacing of 30 × 30cm. However, maximum gross returns, net returns as well as highest B:C ratio in both the crops was obtained from drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF application at plant spacing of 30 × 30cm. Therefore, either African marigold or tuberose may be planted on bunds at a plant spacing of 30 × 30cm along with fertigation (WSF @ 100% RDF) for additional income.

Full text

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022) 1735
ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130
ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239
Effect of Low Cost Fertigation on Flower Yield of Marigold and Tuberose Grown
on the Bunds in the Rice based Cropping System
Gaurav Sharma1,3*, L.K. Shrivastava2and Neeraj Shukla1
1Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture (Uttar Pradesh), India.
2Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry (Uttar Pradesh), India.
3Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh), India.
(Corresponding author: Gaurav Sharma*)
(Received 16 December 2021, Accepted 25 February, 2022)
(Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net)
ABSTRACT: Large area of field bunds remains unused in the areas dominated with rice cultivation. These
available spaces in the form of bund can be utilized for additional income besides the main crop by planting
flower crops. An investigation was carried out to develop an economically suitable model for utilization of
field bunds through flower cultivation. The growth, flowering parameters and yield of African marigold and
tuberose cultivated on bunds under low cost drip system were assessed for profitability. A modified low cost
drip irrigation system recommended by Precision Farming Development Centre, Raipur was used for drip
irrigation and fertigation. The flower crops, African marigold and Tuberose were tested at two different
plant spacing (30 × 30cm and 40 × 30cm) on one metre wide bund with different methods of irrigation and
fertilizer application in factorial RBD design with three replications. Maximum duration of flowering, flower
diameter, number of flowers and flower yield per plant in African marigold was recorded under drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF application at plant spacing of 40 × 30cm. In tuberose, spike length,
number of florets per spike and number of spikes per plant was observed with drip fertigation with WSF @
100% RDF application at plant spacing of 30 × 30cm. However, maximum gross returns, net returns as well
as highest B:C ratio in both the crops was obtained from drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF application
at plant spacing of 30 × 30cm. Therefore, either African marigold or tuberose may be planted on bunds at a
plant spacing of 30 × 30cm along with fertigation (WSF @ 100% RDF) for additional income.
Keywords: Bund, flower, fertigation, low-cost drip, marigold, rice based cropping, tuberose.
INTRODUCTION
Field bunds occupy a sizeable proportion of the paddy
cultivated area in the whole world including India
where it is one of the principal crops. Many of the
Indian states viz., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal,
Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Odisha, Assam, Karnataka are predominantly rice
growing states having a large area under rice
cultivation. In Chhattisgarh alone, rice area under wide
bunds was about 2.5 lakh hectare in 2007 (Anon.,
2007). These rice fields having wide bunds which
remain unutilized are of concern as it comes out to be a
big area gone as wasteland when seen cumulatively.
Though bunds play an important role in retaining
moisture on sloped ground and acts as demarcation
between adjoining fields, but it also serves as source of
weed propagules if poorly managed (Rao et al., 2017).
Various studies have revealed that bund planting of
agroforestry trees is the traditional practice adopted by
the farmers on these bunds. Apart from the agroforestry
system, introduction of vegetation with high profit is
necessary for field bund (Yan et al., 2021). Though, a
lot of impetus had been given on growing pulses on
these bunds in India but it was mostly to increase the
area and production of pulses. In fact, well-managed
bunds can provide source of additional income through
the production of cash crops. For better and higher
economic returns, floricultural crops having high
profitability could be an option to be explored as these
are low volume high value crops with higher returns per
unit area (Sharma and Singh, 2007). Flower planting is
already promoted as a pest management strategy in
irrigated rice field bunds.
In the past one and a half decade, floriculture has
gained momentum and popularity in the Asian
countries in general and India in particular. There has
been a considerable increase in the area as well as
production of flower crops in this state. The area under
flower crops got almost tripled from 106000 ha during
2001-02 to 339000 ha during 2018-19 (Anon., 2021).
Both marigold and tuberose flower crops are grown in a
large scale for commercial cultivation in India. African
marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is in demand round the
year for its loose flowers used in garlands and
decorations (Sahu et al., 2019) and has also been
reported to be grown in summer rice fallows (Suvija et
al., 2019). Similarly, tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.)
grown for its cut spikes, loose flowers and essential oils
Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022)

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022) 1736
are in high demand in the domestic market (Singh et al.,
2021). There lies an opportunity of utilizing the bund
by planting it with highly profitable flower crops which
are popularly called as low volume high value cash
crops.
Drip irrigation has the potential to save considerable
irrigation water, labour and time. Also, surface run-off
and soil evaporation is reduced considerably along with
lesser weed growth in drip as compared to flood
irrigation (Kaur and Brar, 2016). Fertigation has been
found to be the most economical fertilizer application
technique for most of the flower crops resulting in
increased yield and enhanced quality (Divya et al.,
2018). It not only enhances the fertilizer use efficiency
but also helps in economizing the use of water and
fertilizers and thereby reduces the cost of cultivation by
reducing the cost of water, fertilizers, labour and energy
(Khan et al., 1997). These qualities are very much
desired when planting is to be done on hitherto un-
utilized bund as the major concentration is for the main
field/major crop. Further, keeping in view the meagre
resources and considering the secondary importance of
bund cultivation, a low cost fertigation system can be
feasible from economical point of view. Moreover, the
plant spacing has also an important role to play in
overall plant growth and yield and has been reported to
affect the flower yield in marigold and tuberose as well
(Khalaj et al., 2012; Rolaniya et al., 2017). Therefore,
besides proper water and nutrient management, there is
also a need to work out optimum planting distance for
bund cultivation under low cost fertigation system for
higher productivity, as the plant spacing has been
reported to influence the yield.
Only a few studies have examined the full impact of
alternative bund management practices in rice cropping
systems. If crops of high economic and marketing
values are successfully grown on the field bund, the
large area of wasteland bund may be used properly with
optimum resource utilization. Keeping these points in
view and with the objective of conserving water,
enhancing the nutrient utilization, labour efficiency and
additional income from unutilized bunds, this
experiment was conducted for suggesting a flower
based farming model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigation was carried out on the bunds
of rice field of the All India Coordinated Research
Project-Soil test crop response, Indira Gandhi Krishi
Vishwavidyala, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The experiment
consisted of treatments comprising of different methods
of irrigation alongwith fertilizer application and
planting distance in Factorial Randomized Block
Design (FRBD) with three replications. The two factors
tested comprised of irrigation and fertilizer application
methods (drip irrigation, surface flood irrigation,
fertigation and soil application of fertilizer) along with
plant spacing (30×30cm and 40×30cm) in African
marigold and tuberose. African marigold var. Pusa
Narangi Gainda and Tuberose var. Prajwal were taken
as test varieties planted in three rows. Bulbs of tuberose
was planted in June 2018 which continued with
intermittent flowering round the year whereas, rooted
cuttings of African marigold were planted twice, both
in kharif (June 2018) and rabi season (November 2018)
on 50m2bund (50m length and 1m width). At a spacing
of 30×30cm, 483 plants were accommodated/50m2
whereas at a spacing of 40×30 cm, 360 plants were
accommodated /50m2.
A low cost drip irrigation system recommended by
Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC), Indira
Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur was used for
irrigation and fertigation. The low cost drip irrigation
system consisted of two buckets of 20 litres which were
joined together by ‘T’; the buckets were supported on
bamboo sticks of 5m height. The ‘T’ was connected to
lateral pipe having inbuilt dripper at spacing of 30 cm
with discharge of 2.2 lph, placed between two rows of
crops. Water to the buckets was provided through a
pipe from the source of water supply used for irrigating
the main field. 120 litres of water was utilized every
week for irrigating 50m2. Soil application of
recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) @ 90:90:75
kg/ha NPK(0.98kg Urea, 2.81kg SSP and 0.62kg
MOP/50m2) for marigold and 200:200:200 kg/ha
NPK(2.17kg Urea, 6.25kg SSP and 1.67kg MOP/50m2)
for tuberose was done. For fertigation, water soluble
fertilizer (WSF) 19:19:19 was used. Drip fertigation
with WSF @ 100% RDF was applied @ 55g for
tuberose and @ 24.5g for marigoldat fortnightly
interval through drip irrigation for 50m2.Observations
were recorded on five randomly selected plants from
each treatment. The data were recorded on growth,
flowering attributes and yield and were subjected to
statistical analysis using SPSS statistical software
(SPSS Inc., USA).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Effect of different methods of irrigation and
fertilizer application in marigold: Drip fertigation
with WSF @ 100% RDF had significantly superior
effect as compared to other treatments for plant height
(71.60cm) as evident from the data of kharif and rabi
season in the Table 1. Maximum plant spread
(46.43cm) was recorded under drip fertigation with
WSF @ 100% RDF but was statistically similar to the
treatment drip irrigation with soil application of RDF
(44.36cm). In case of flowering parameters, maximum
duration of flowering (65.33 days) was found under
drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF which was
significantly superior over all the other methods.
Maximum flower diameter (4.82cm) was also recorded
with drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF which
however, was at par with the treatment drip irrigation +
soil application of RDF (4.67cm). Highest number of
flowers/plant (48.96) and maximum flower yield/plant
(288.58g) was recorded under drip fertigation with
WSF @ 100% RDF application which was significantly
superior over all the other treatments (Table 1). Due to
application of 100% RDF through fertigation directly
around the root system there may have been no
leaching losses and availability of optimum soil
moisture also contributed in better utilization of applied
nutrients (Shedeed et al., 2007). Highest yield and yield

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022) 1737
attributes with 100% RDF through water soluble
fertilizers has also been observed in marigold. These
results are in conformity with the findings of other
researchers who also reported highest nutrient use
efficiency in 100% recommended fertigation dose
though drip irrigation in marigold (Srinivas et al.,
2018).
Effect of plant spacing in marigold: Plant spacing
significantly affected the vegetative and flowering
parameters except for plant spread. Significantly
maximum plant height (67.88cm) was recorded at a
plant spacing of 30×30cm (Table 1). Tall plant height
with closer spacing has also been observed in other
flower crops with one of the reason that plant has lesser
area for lateral growth (Ahmad et al., 2019). However,
maximum flowering duration (59.40 days), flower
diameter (4.77cm), number of flowers/plant (41.33) and
flower yield/plant (203.84g) was recorded at plant
spacing of 40×30cm. Higher individual plant yield at
wider spacing may be due to for nutrients, light and
moisture thereby increases the flowering attributes. The
increase in floral characters might be due to the
availability of more space resulting in less competition
among the plants which provided better penetration of
light, more aeration and ultimately increased
photosynthetic activity resulting into higher yield.
Similar results have been obtained in marigold which
also indicated that the wider spacing of 40x30 cm
resulted in highest flower yield per plant whereas, the
closer spacing resulted in maximum plant height (Jat,
2006; Naik et al., 2019). Optimum plant spacing
enhances better utilization of spaces, high yield, and
quality production (Ara et al., 2007).
Interaction effect of different methods of irrigation
and fertilizer application with plant spacing in
marigold: The interaction effect of methods of
irrigation and fertilizer application with plant spacing
was found to be significantly different for all the
parameters under investigation except for plant spread.
In case of plant height, maximum plant height
(73.06cm) was recorded under drip fertigation with
WSF @ 100% RDF at plant spacing of 30×30cm
followed by drip irrigation + soil application of RDF at
plant spacing of 30x30cm (72.26cm) and drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at 40×30cm
(70.93cm), however all being statistically equal (Table
1). Longest flowering duration (67 days) was noted in
the treatment drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF
at 40 × 30cm plant spacing, which was at par with drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at plant spacing of
30×30cm (60 days) and also drip irrigation + soil
application of RDF at 40×30cm (59 days). Maximum
flower diameter (5.32cm) was recorded in the treatment
drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF with 40×30cm
plant spacing, followed by drip irrigation + soil
application of RDF at 40×30cm spacing (5.28cm) and
drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at 30×30cm
(4.96cm), all having at par effect (Table 1).
Significantly highest number of flowers/plant (54.60)
and flower yield/plant (299.73g) was recorded in the
treatment drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at
40×30cm plant spacing which was superior over all
other treatments.
Table 1: Effect of irrigation, fertigation and plant spacing on growth and flowering parameters in African
marigold Mean values Kharif and Rabi (2018-19).
Treatments
Plant
height
(cm)
Plant
spread
(cm)
Duration of
flowering
(days)
Flower
diameter
(cm)
No. of flowers/
plant
Yield/
plant (g)
I1
59.03
39.86
44.50
3.62
33.50
150.11
I2
66.20
44.36
53.33
4.67
40.80
208.50
I3
71.60
46.43
65.33
4.82
48.96
288.58
I4
63.53
41.73
55.50
4.30
39.26
188.99
I5
57.30
38.36
42.00
3.56
28.83
138.03
SEm (+)
2.50
1.38
2.16
0.16
1.11
4.44
LSD (P=0.05)
7.49
4.13
6.48
0.50
3.32
13.29
S1
67.88
41.85
52.86
3.94
35.21
194.85
S2
60.78
42.45
59.40
4.77
41.33
203.84
SEm (+)
1.58
0.87
1.36
0.10
0.70
2.78
LSD (P=0.05)
4.73
NA
4.09
0.31
2.11
8.34
I1S1
63.00
40.73
48.00
3.61
31.00
158.81
I2S1
72.26
40.20
56.66
3.75
38.00
242.21
I3S1
73.06
39.93
60.00
4.96
43.86
276.59
I4S1
66.73
47.20
55.66
4.03
35.53
218.68
I5S1
64.33
44.20
51.00
2.96
27.66
122.89
I1S2
41.53
42.73
55.66
4.28
36.00
153.18
I2S2
68.06
39.53
59.00
5.28
46.06
219.16
I3S2
70.93
36.80
67.00
5.32
54.60
299.90
I4S2
64.06
45.66
56.00
4.92
40.53
174.80
I5S2
59.33
44.53
54.33
4.37
30.00
141.54
SEm (+)
3.53
1.95
3.06
0.23
1.57
6.28
LSD (P=0.05)
10.59
NA
9.16
0.70
4.72
18.80
I1: Drip irrigation, I2: Drip irrigation + Soil application of RDF, I3: Drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF, I4: Surface flood
irrigation + Soil application of RDF, I5: Surface flood irrigation (Control); S1: 30×30cm, S2: 40×30cm

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 0000-0000(2022) 1738
Significantly higher flower yield in marigold associated
with wider spacing and water soluble fertilizers at
100% RDF supplied through fertigation have also been
reported earlier by Chaitra and Gopinath (2018). It has
been opined that higher yield under fertigation may be
due to increased nutrient uptake due to frequent and
direct application of water soluble fertilizers in the root
zone which led to minimum leaching losses
(Sumangala et al., 2018). Further, the increase in
nutrient uptake due to conducive environment of the
growing media created by maintaining high moisture
level at root zone, might have increased the solubility of
these nutrients and their uptake thereby enhancing the
yield parameters.
Effect of different methods of irrigation and
fertilizer application in tuberose: Effect of irrigation
and fertilizer application method significantly affected
the plant spread in tuberose. Significantly maximum
plant spread (29.36 cm) was recorded due to the effect
of drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF over all the
other methods (Table 2). Similarly, the effect of drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF was found to be
significantly superior over other methods for spike
length (85.11cm) and number of florets/spike (53.50).
Maximum number of spikes per plant (8.00) was also
recorded with drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF
which however, was found to be at par with the
application drip irrigation + soil application of RDF.
The results are in line with the of findings of other
researchers who in tuberose observed that 100% water
soluble fertilizers applied through drip fertigation
system significantly increased the plant growth
(Kabariel and Kannan, 2015). Fertigation at frequent
interval of time in small quantities might have increased
the fertilizer use efficiency and nutrient uptake
preventing the loss of nutrients by leaching, erosion
as well as by weeds. Effective and efficient
utilization of water and nutrients by the plants may
have resulted in better plant growth (Kabariel and
Kannan,2015). Similarly, it has been reported that
fertigation with water soluble fertilizers at 125% of
recommended dose of fertilizers recorded higher
vegetative growth whereas, 75% of RDF using WSF
showed better yield characters and 100% RDF using
WSF resulted in maximum vase life in tuberose
(Kumari et al., 2020).
Table 2. Effect of irrigation, fertigation and plant spacing on growth and flowering parameters in Tuberose.
Treatments
Plant spread
(cm)
Spike length
(cm)
No. of florets/spike
No. of spikes
I1
22.93
72.95
45.83
5.66
I2
24.35
82.11
52.00
7.50
I3
29.36
85.11
53.50
8.16
I4
27.46
79.46
49.66
6.83
I5
21.01
70.65
46.33
5.66
SEm (+)
0.38
1.89
1.09
0.27
LSD (P=0.05)
1.13
5.68
3.27
0.81
S1
24.98
79.30
49.13
6.73
S2
25.06
77.61
49.20
6.80
SEm (+)
0.24
1.20
0.69
0.17
LSD (P=0.05)
NA
NA
NA
NA
I1S1
21.20
73.56
47.00
5.66
I2S1
25.40
85.36
48.00
8.00
I3S1
29.53
88.53
54.33
9.00
I4S1
28.20
77.66
51.33
6.00
I5S1
20.03
72.03
45.00
5.33
I1S2
22.00
73.86
46.66
6.00
I2S2
24.66
84.73
52.33
7.66
I3S2
30.10
85.50
53.66
8.66
I4S2
28.63
75.70
49.66
6.33
I5S2
20.50
67.63
43.66
5.00
SEm (+)
0.53
2.68
1.54
0.38
LSD (P=0.05)
1.60
8.03
4.62
1.15
Interaction effect of different methods of irrigation
and fertilizer application and plant spacing in
tuberose: The interaction effect of methods of
irrigation and fertilizer application with plant spacing
significantly influenced the vegetative and flowering
parameters in tuberose (Table 2), though the effect of
spacing on tuberose yield was found to be non-
significant. Significant interaction effect was found in
plant spread, with maximum plant spread (30.10cm)
recorded with drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF
at 40×30cm plant spacing which was at par with drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at 30×30cm
(29.53cm) and treatment surface flood irrigation + soil
application of RDF at 40×30cm (28.63cm). The
interaction effect was found to be significantly different
for flowering parameters as well. Maximum spike
length (88.53cm) was recorded with drip fertigation
with WSF @ 100% RDF at 30×30cm which was
statistically equal with drip fertigation with WSF @
100% RDF at 40×30cm (85.50cm) and drip irrigation +
soil application of RDF at 30×30cm (85.36cm). As
evident from Table 2, similar trend was observed for
number of florets/spike with maximum number (54.33)
recorded with drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF
at 30×30 cm followed by drip fertigation with WSF @
100% RDF at 40×30cm (53.66) and drip irrigation +

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022) 1739
soil application of RDF at 30×30cm (52.33),all being at
par with each other. In case of number of spikes/plant,
maximum number (8.33) was noted under drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at 30×30cm which
was found to be at par with drip fertigation with WSF
@ 100% RDF at 40×30cm (8.00) and drip irrigation +
soil application of RDF at 30×30cm (8.00). The higher
yield as compared to normal fertilizer may be due to
proper distribution and availability of nutrients in the in
soil with fertigation whereas soil application generally
tends to cause uneven distribution of fertilizers in the
root zone (Shedeed et al., 2007). The results are in
conformity with the findings reported earlier in
tuberose (Shashidhar et al., 2008; Desai and Thirumala,
2015).
Economic analysis: All combinations of drip irrigation
and fertigation recorded higher net returns and B:C
ratio than control in both crops (Table 3 and 4). In
marigold, interaction of drip fertigation with WSF @
100% RDF at 30×30 cm plant spacing recorded highest
gross returns of INR (Indian Rupee) 13070/50m2bund
and net returns of INR 7270/50m2bund as well as
highest B:C ratio of 1.25 (Table 3) which was closely
followed by combination of drip fertigation with WSF
@ 100% RDF at 40×30 cm plant spacing which
registered gross returns (INR11903/50m2) bund and
net returns (INR6343/50m2) bund and B:C ratio of 1.14.
Though, highest yield/plant was recorded in the
treatment drip fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at
40×30 cm plant spacing, but may be due to more
number of plants accommodated in lesser spacing of
30x30 cm, the treatment drip fertigation with WSF @
100% RDF at 30×30 cm plant spacing, was found to
have the highest B:C ratio. Similarly, in case of
tuberose (Table 4), interaction of drip fertigation with
WSF @ 100% RDF at 30×30 cm plant spacing
recorded highest gross returns of INR13041/50m2bund,
net returns of INR 7316/50m2bund and highest B:C
ratio of 1.28. Comparable results were also obtained in
vegetable crops wherein, it was opined that the
magnitude of yield is influenced by plant population
and its distribution pattern, which are important for
getting maximum economic yield from a given field
area (Singh and Saimbhi, 1998).
Table 3: Economics of marigold cultivation for 50m2bund.
Treatments
Total cost of
cultivation* (Rs)
Gross return in (Rs)
Net return in
(Rs)
BC Ratio
I1S1
5500
8463
2963
0.54
I2S1
5900
11825
5925
1.00
I3S1
5800
13070
7270
1.25
I4S1
4400
9359
4959
1.13
I5S1
4000
6535
2535
0.63
I1S2
5260
6141
881
0.17
I2S2
5660
11037
5377
0.95
I3S2
5560
11903
6343
1.14
I4S2
4160
8694
4534
1.09
I5S2
3760
5605
1845
0.49
* Cost of cultivation includes low cost drip system, planting material, fertilizers, pesticide cost; Average selling rate of marigold
of Kharif season: INR60/kg; Average selling rate of marigold of rabi season: INR50/kg; No. of plants/50m2in S1: 483; No. of
plants/50m2in S2: 360
Table 4: Economics of tuberose cultivation (one year) for 50m2bund.
Treatments
Total cost of
cultivation* (Rs)
Gross return in
(Rs)
Net return in (Rs)
BC Ratio
I1S1
5500
8211
2711
0.49
I2S1
5800
11592
5792
1.00
I3S1
5725
13041
7316
1.28
I4S1
4290
8694
4404
1.03
I5S1
4000
7728
3728
0.93
I1S2
4900
6480
1580
0.32
I2S2
5190
8280
3090
0.60
I3S2
5125
9360
4235
0.83
I4S2
3690
6840
3150
0.85
I5S2
3400
5400
2000
0.59
* Cost of cultivation includes low cost drip system, planting material, fertilizers, pesticide; Average selling rate: INR3/cut spike;
No. of plants/50m2in S1:483;No. of plants/50m2in S2: 360
CONCLUSION
On the basis of investigation, interaction effect of drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at 40×30 cm plant
spacing was found to be superior for growth, flowering
parameters and yield in case of marigold. However,
higher B:C ratio was obtained at lesser plant spacing of
30×30 cm due to more number of plants accommodated
at lesser plant spacing. In tuberose, application of drip
fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF at plant spacing of
30×30 cm resulted in higher growth, yield parameters
and B:C ratio. Therefore, it may be inferred that for
additional income, either marigold or tuberose can be
taken on bund planting at the spacing of 30×30 cm
under low cost fertigation with WSF @ 100% RDF.

Sharma et al., Biological Forum –An International Journal 14(1): 1735-1740(2022) 1740
FUTURE SCOPE
Planting on bunds not only results in utilization of the
waste land but also leads to alternative income. By
proper water and nutrient management, higher yield
with optimum resource utilization can be obtained. In
the future course of time, with shrinking cultivable
land, bunds may be utilized more often for cultivation.
Other flower crops can also be tested for commercial
bund planting. Besides monetary income, scope of
these flower crops for biological control can be
explored.
Conflict of interest. None.
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How to cite this article: Gaurav Sharma, L.K. Shrivastava and Neeraj Shukla (2022). Effect of Low Cost Fertigation on Flower
Yield of Marigold and Tuberose Grown on the Bunds in the Rice based Cropping System. Biological Forum –An International
Journal, 14(1): 1735-1740.